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Michigan Feet On Dashboard Accident: What You Need To Know

January 3, 2025 by Steven M. Gursten

If you’ve been injured in a car accident while your feet were on the dashboard, the experienced attorneys at Michigan Auto Law can help you and your family hold the responsible driver accountable and get you the compensation you’re legally entitled to.

Putting your feet on the dashboard increases your chances of a serious injury from an airbag in the event of an accident. It also reduces the effectiveness of your seatbelt and impairs your reaction time. Injuries caused by having your feet on the dash during a crash, including total hip dislocations and fractures, can be far more extensive and complicated than injuries caused by a crash alone. 

To be sure, if the driver who crashed into you and caused the crash is found to be negligent, then he or she can be held legally accountable for your injuries, harms and damages.

But the dollar-amount of your settlement or recovery from the at-fault driver may be reduced under Michigan’s “comparative fault” law if the court determines that you were partially at-fault for your injuries because you had your feet on the dashboard at the time of the accident. 

Currently, there is no law on the books making it illegal to have your feet on the dash of a car or truck while it’s in motion on a Michigan roadway. 

If you had your feet on the dashboard and suffered serious injuries in an accident in Michigan, call us now at (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation or use our chat feature. We will fight for you and your family, and we never take a fee unless and until we win!

Why you shouldn’t put your feet on the dash

Putting your feet on the dashboard is dangerous and can be fatal if you are involved in a car accident . There are several reasons why this seemingly innocent happen often has serious consequences, including:

  • Airbag deployment – The airbag deploys with great force from inside the dash at the moment of impact. If your feet are on the dash, your legs are pushed upward, putting you in a precarious position and greatly increasing the chance of a serious injury.
  • Reduced seat belt effectiveness – With your feet on the dash, your seatbelt cannot keep you properly secured, increasing your chances of being thrown forward during a collision.
  • Impaired emergency reaction time – If your feet are on the dash, you’re compromising your ability to react quickly to unexpected situations on the road, increasing the risk of a crash and serious injuries.

Is it dangerous to put your feet on the dash?

Yes! Putting your feet on the dashboard is incredibly dangerous because your dashboard contains an explosive airbag that will inflate in milliseconds upon impact during a car accident. If your foot or feet or any other part of your body is resting against the dash, the airbag has the potential to cause catastrophic injuries. 

The impact from the airbag pushes the feet away and upward, pulling the upper body lower into the chair and exposing the internal organs to significant damage. And these injuries are more than capable of killing or paralyzing victims.

Is it illegal to put your feet on the dash in Michigan?

Michigan law does not explicitly prohibit you from sitting with your feet on the dash, even if you’re the driver. But this does not make the behavior any less dangerous.

Of course, if you are driving with a foot on the dash this could be considered “careless or negligent operation” of a motor vehicle, and you could be charged with a civil infraction for endangering other people or property.

Am I responsible for my injuries if I had my feet on the dash in Michigan?

You might be, to some extent. Under Michigan law, your car accident settlement can be reduced by the percentage of your actions that contributed to your injuries such as having your feet on the dashboard during the crash. This is known as Michigan’s “comparative fault” law – although it is sometimes referred to as comparative negligence.

However, while having your feet on the dashboard is not advisable behavior, it does not take away your ability to sue the person who caused the accident and collect damages. An experienced attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve, even if you were partially responsible.

Airbag deployment feet on dashboard accident

If your feet are on the dashboard during a car accident the effectiveness of the airbag deployment is compromised and the chance of a serious injury is much greater. Airbags deploy at between 100 and 220 miles per hour. They are designed to reduce the risk of your head or upper body striking the dash or interior of the vehicle during a crash.

Airbag deployment injuries often involve the hips. The location of the legs and hips when your feet are on the dash puts you in a precarious position when an airbag is deployed. Fully dislocated and/or broken hips are often seen in these types of crashes.

The airbag is intended to provide safety, but improper positioning can turn it into a hazard.

Feet on dash injuries

Types of injuries include, but are not limited to:

  • Injuries to the eyes
  • Broken bones (most often legs and nose)
  • Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and concussions
  • Burns or abrasions from the speed at which the airbag deploys
  • Bruising (around the body and to internal organs) and/or internal bleeding
  • Lung irritations from chemicals released upon deployment

Real-life examples of feet on the dash injuries include:

  • Audra Tatum was involved in a T-bone collision. While everyone else in the vehicle walked away with scrapes and bruises, Tatum’s ankle, femur and arm were shattered by the impact of her air bag. In addition, her foot shot up, breaking her nose.
  • Bethany Benson was sleeping in the passenger seat with her feet on the dash when the car in which she was riding smashed into a tractor-trailer, crumpling the entire front end. The airbag threw her legs upward through the windshield. She suffered a cracked eye socket and cheekbone as well as extensive broken bones in her feet, which are now two sizes smaller and require orthotics. She also has hearing and vision difficulties, and a brain bleed left her with the mental capacity of a 13-year-old.

What should I do if I was injured in a car accident because my feet were on the dashboard?

If your feet were on the dashboard while you were in a car accident in Michigan, first and foremost, seek immediate emergency medical care. Then, if your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, call Michigan Auto Law. We are the largest law firm in the state completely specializing in motor vehicle crash cases, and our results speak for themselves. Our experienced attorneys will fight for you and your family to ensure you are fairly compensated for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and any other damages you may have incurred.

Injured In A Foot/Feet On The Dashboard Accident In Michigan? Call our attorneys now for a free consultation!

If you were injured in a car accident while having one foot or both feet on the dashboard and you have concerns and questions about your legal rights to pain and suffering compensation, economic damages and auto No-Fault insurance benefits, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in auto accidents.

Our secret? Our car attorneys deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms.  This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.

Unlike other law firms, attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions. 

We have more than 2,000 5-Star Reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.

More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle accidents than any other lawyer or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck accident and car crash settlement in the state.

Call now so we can start making a real difference for you.

Michigan Feet On Dashboard Accident: What You Need To Know
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